About

Stephen Wallace has broad experience as a school psychologist and adolescent counselor. As the national chairman and chief executive officer of SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions), director of the SADD Teens Today research project, adjunct professor of psychology at Mount Ida College, and director of counseling and counselor training at the Cape Cod Sea Camps, he is a high-profile participant in, and commentator on, the modern-day adolescent experience.

Stephen has held positions in the Psychological Services Department of the Palm Beach County, Florida, public schools; the Pupil Personnel Services Department of the Millis, Massachusetts, public schools; and the Adolescent Psychiatric Unit of Fair Oaks Hospital in Summit, New Jersey. He served on the conference faculty of the Miami Children’s Hospital Division of Adolescent Medicine, was appointed as a member of the Massachusetts Gubernatorial Task Force on Sexual Abuse and Assault, and was formerly a member of the board of directors of the National Commission Against Drunk Driving.

In addition, Stephen:

  • Has published more than 50 articles about adolescent development and decision-making in newspapers and magazines across the country;
  • Writes feature articles for SADD’s Decisions newsletters and the American Camp Association’s (ACA) Camping Magazine. He is also a member of the advisory panel and a contributing writer for ACA’s parents’ magazine, Camp, and its related Web site, www.campparents.org;
  • Is featured in Chapter Nine of Where Should I Sit at Lunch? The Ultimate 24/7 Guide to Surviving the High School Years, by Harriet S. Mosatche, Karen Unger. McGraw-Hill; 1 edition (February 28, 2006);
  • Conducts annual radio tours reaching millions of listeners nationwide. Stations/networks have included CBS Radio (national), CNN Radio (national), USA Radio Network, WBZ-AM (Boston), WRGA-AM (Atlanta), Metro Networks (Indianapolis), Metro Networks (Atlanta), WJTH-AM (Atlanta), WCBC-AM (Washington, D.C.), Metro Networks (Nashville), KXAN-TV (an NBC affiliate), KRLD-AM (Dallas), KYW-AM (Philadelphia), Metro Networks (Cincinnati), WHUD-FM (New York), KFWB-AM (Los Angeles), KPQ-AM (Seattle), WGBR-AM (Raleigh), Talk Radio News Service (national), WDIS-AM (Boston), and Metro Networks (Pittsburgh);
  • Is a frequent contributor to television broadcast stories about teen behavior and has appeared on NBC’s Today Show, CNN, Fox News Channel, and New England Cable News, as well as on ABC, NBC, CBS, and Fox affiliates;
  • Serves as a “go-to” source for journalists writing about adolescent issues and has been interviewed by reporters for the Associated Press, Athletic Business, Boston Globe, Christian Science Monitor, Congressional Quarterly, Indianapolis Star, Miami Herald, MTV News, New York Times, San Diego Union Tribune, Scholastic Choices, Teen Vogue, Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Women’s World, USA Today, US News & World Report, and other major publications across the country;
  • Has been designated as a spokesperson for the Steer Clear of Pot campaign and the Parent Chronicles campaign, both sponsored by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. Media coverage has included NBC Nightly News, MSNBC, AP, KFWB-AM News Radio (Los Angeles), and WTOP-AM Radio (a CBS affiliate, Washington, D.C.);
  • Has presented keynote addresses at student and student-parent assemblies in Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. He also speaks frequently at conferences, which have included these:
    • American Camp Association, National Conference;
    • Children’s Hospital Boston – Harvard Medical School, Leadership Education in Adolescent Health Conference;
    • Independent School Health Association;
    • Miami Children’s Hospital, Annual Youth Leadership Conferences;
    • National Association of School Psychologists, National Conference;
    • National Association of Secondary School Principals, National Conference; and
    • National DUI Enforcement Symposium – Northwestern University Center for Public Safety.

Stephen is also the principal of Summit Communications Management Corporation, a marketing and government relations consulting firm located in Boston. His regional and national clients represent such industries as telecommunications, energy, and consumer products. He also serves as a senior consultant at ML Strategies, LLC, the consulting arm of Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky & Popeo, P.C.

Previously, Stephen served as Undersecretary of Economic Affairs for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, appointed by Governor William F. Weld. In this role he oversaw policy, planning and management for a number of state agencies, including the Massachusetts Office of International Trade and Investment; the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism; the State Office of Minority and Women Business Assistance; and the Massachusetts Office of Film and Video Development. As Undersecretary he also managed the state’s marketing and advertising programs for business development and retention and served in an ex-officio capacity on the board of directors of the Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority and the Massachusetts Corporation for Educational Telecommunications.

Stephen also served Massachusetts as Assistant Secretary of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation, responsible for policy planning, consumer education, and external communications for the executive office and its nine regulatory agencies, including the Massachusetts Cable Commission, Division of Insurance, Division of Banks, Board of Registration in Medicine, Department of Public Utilities, and Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission. During this time, he chaired or served on a number of gubernatorial task forces covering such issues as public health, underage drinking, the environment, and education. Stephen also hosted a statewide cable television program, Consumer Weekly, and was a regular contributor to local newscasts and radio programs.

Before entering government service, Stephen was a business communications and marketing consultant and served as a political advisor to candidates for U.S. Senator, Massachusetts Attorney General, state senator, and state representative.

Affiliations